How “dragon’s teeth” appear on the roads after the heat, crippling rubber
- July 17, 2023
- 0
Most of the problems for the motorist and his car caused by hot weather and all the factors associated with it are known to most car owners. However,
Most of the problems for the motorist and his car caused by hot weather and all the factors associated with it are known to most car owners. However, there is one more rather insidious nuance, which, perhaps, only experienced drivers remember.
What car problems are associated with the summer heat? The typical driver will list the risk of engine overheating; blinding sun: insects cover the radiator and windshield with their corpses; upholstery and seats heated to the temperature of eggs. And also bitumen drops from the new asphalt, which fly on the body; rutting that appears in the road surface softens in the sun. Seems like we’ve listed all the important stuff, right?
As the saying goes: “yes, but no.” There’s one more point. This “mine” appears because of the scorching sun. It sometimes heats bitumen, the basis of all asphalt, to temperatures where it becomes distinctly soft. Not like plasticine, of course, but enough to yield at least a little to the pressure of the wheels of a heavy truck. This is the main condition.
The second component of the future “tyre ambush” is foreign objects falling onto the roadway. The greatest danger is formed by all kinds of small and seemingly harmless pieces of iron. For example, certain mounting bolts that fall out of cars due to the shaking. Or small brackets, “corners”, latches and other small constructive devices. Trucks become the main source of this disgrace on the highway asphalt. Hitting something like that at high speed, especially for a passenger car with its not too thick rubber tires, can lead to the need to buy new tires.
After all, a bolt is not a nail that gently goes through it. In that case, he rips it roughly. More often, the wheel of a hurried car simply throws the piece of iron away. But everything changes when the same thing happens on soft asphalt. And especially if the wheel of a heavy truck hits our bolt. The latter does not go as fast as a car (which reduces the chance of a bolt being thrown by the wheel), its tires exert much more pressure on the roadway and are themselves more durable, minimizing the risk of a puncture. And in warm weather we also have a softened, smooth road surface.
The result is the pressing of a piece of iron into the asphalt by a cargo wheel. And usually it is not pressed completely and not evenly. For example, only one end of the same bolt may be pressed into the asphalt, while the other end remains slanted above the surface like a kind of nail. With the departure of the heat during the day, the roadway cools, hardens and thereby fixes this “tooth” in this position. It turns out to be an almost perfect trap for the wheels of passing cars.
Hitting a native “dragon’s tooth” can, if you’re lucky, pass without noticeable consequences for the band. But if the car owner’s supply of happiness has already been exhausted, a sudden high-speed tire awaits him. In such a situation, a cracked wheel is the lesser of two evils. There is a good chance that the case will end in a serious accident.
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What car problems are associated with the summer heat? The typical driver will list the risk of engine overheating; blinding sun: insects cover the radiator and windshield with their corpses; upholstery and seats heated to the temperature of eggs. And also bitumen drops from the new asphalt, which fly on the body; rutting that appears in the road surface softens in the sun. Seems like we’ve listed all the important stuff, right?
As the saying goes: “yes, but no.” There’s one more point. This “mine” appears because of the scorching sun. It sometimes heats bitumen, the basis of all asphalt, to temperatures where it becomes distinctly soft. Not like plasticine, of course, but enough to yield at least a little to the pressure of the wheels of a heavy truck. This is the main condition.
The second component of the future “tyre ambush” is foreign objects falling onto the roadway. The greatest danger is formed by all kinds of small and seemingly harmless pieces of iron. For example, certain mounting bolts that fall out of cars due to the shaking. Or small brackets, “corners”, latches and other small constructive devices. Trucks become the main source of this disgrace on the highway asphalt. Hitting something like that at high speed, especially for a passenger car with its not too thick rubber tires, can lead to the need to buy new tires.
After all, a bolt is not a nail that gently goes through it. In that case, he rips it roughly. More often, the wheel of a hurried car simply throws the piece of iron away. But everything changes when the same thing happens on soft asphalt. And especially if the wheel of a heavy truck hits our bolt. The latter does not go as fast as a car (which reduces the chance of a bolt being thrown by the wheel), its tires exert much more pressure on the roadway and are themselves more durable, minimizing the risk of a puncture. And in warm weather we also have a softened, smooth road surface.
The result is the pressing of a piece of iron into the asphalt by a cargo wheel. And usually it is not pressed completely and not evenly. For example, only one end of the same bolt may be pressed into the asphalt, while the other end remains slanted above the surface like a kind of nail. With the departure of the heat during the day, the roadway cools, hardens and thereby fixes this “tooth” in this position. It turns out to be an almost perfect trap for the wheels of passing cars.
Hitting a native “dragon’s tooth” can, if you’re lucky, pass without noticeable consequences for the band. But if the car owner’s supply of happiness has already been exhausted, a sudden high-speed tire awaits him. In such a situation, a cracked wheel is the lesser of two evils. There is a good chance that the case will end in a serious accident.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
